Rayon bleaching machine



,game 27, i933. .1. J, slPPEL ET AL,

RAYON BLEACHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

gn/Lw/ntov Jam/JOSEPH ,S/PPEL `Fume 27, 1933 J. J. slPPEl. Er Al. 1,915,872

RAYON BLEACHING MACHINE u I mea sept. 18, 195o,- 4 sheets-sheet 2 Jung; 27, 1933. .L .1. slPPEL Er AL RAYON BLEACHING MACHINE Filed sept. 18,l 195o 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Manni/mamy 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. J. SIPPEL EF AL RAYON BLEACHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18,- 1930 June 27, 1933.

ANN.

Patented June 217, 1933 UNITED STA PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO TES PATENT OFFICE lJOHN JOSEPH SIPPEL, OF UPPER DARBY, AND WILLIAM F. HENNESSY, OE PHILADEL- TB'E WICACO MACHINE CORPORATION, 0F

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA RAYON vBLEAC Application filed September f Our invention relates to new and useful improvements in bleaching yarns, and more particularly to the bleaching or treating of rayon.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine whereby the yarn in its skein form is caused to travel the length of the machine, so that it may be subjected to the sprays of various .chemical solutions, washed and then treated with a water and oil mixture.

Although the present machine is used for bleaching and. washing the rayon, it will be understood that other forms of yarns in th'e textile industry might as well be treated, and it will also be understood that although we have shown, in a partial manner, the various spray pans and pipes, the gist of the invention is the manner in which the skein rods are caused-l to continuously travel throughout the length of the machine, and to be positively rotated first in vone direction and then positively rotated in the other direction, after a short interval of rest.

Still another object of' the invention is to provide a machine in which the skeins of yarn are carried throughout the various stages of bleaching or washing at a predetermined rate, and positively rotated first in one direction and then the other, and to provide a change gear arrangement whereby the rotation of the skein rods may be changed or regulated to a desired speed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bleaching machine wherein two horizontal chains are utilized on the opposite sides of the machine and wherein skein rods are to be placed in special forms of sockets or brackets which will be hereinafter more fully described, so that as the skein rods advance, they will be positively driven or rotated first in one direction, then momentarily freed from rotation, and then will be positively rotated in the other direction..

As is well known to those familiar with bleaching machines as used in the textile or rayon industries, it is desirable to have these skein rods rotated in first one direction and then the other, as otherwise the skeins are apt to bunch at one end or the other of the rods,

HING MACHINE 1s, 1930. serial No. 482,805.

due mostly to the fact that it is nearly imposslible to have the skein rods absolutely eve Still another object of the invention is to provide a bleaching machine wherein the various pans or sprays will be located above the skein rods, so that the skeins may be subjected in their travel to various solutions, such as sodium sulphide and water, and sodium hypochlorite and an oil mixture or emulsion; and to also `provide a continuous travel of the skein rods through the machine positively rotated in first one direction and then the other, and to provide means for regulating the rate of rotation, so that the skeins may be properly treated Still another object of the invention is to provide a bleaching machine for longitudinally moving the skein rods, comprising two carrier chains for the skein rods and having a driving socket for an end'of each skein rod so that -this driving socket will positively rotate its skein rod first in one direction and then inthe other, this being accomplished by having a pinion of the drive socket first intermesh with a worm located above the drive socket and then with a worm mounted just below the pinion of the drive socket.

`With these vand other objects in view, the invention consistsl in certain new and novel arrangements as will be hereinafter more fully explained and pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to'the drawings showing a. preferred embodiment,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved bleaching machine, showing fragmentarily several of the pipes, fittingsand the spray pans for the various liquids to be used;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view showing one of the skein rods in position and the sockets for another, while parts of the machine are removed for the sake of clearness;

' Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing a number of skeins in position on the rod and the manner of driving and rotating the skein rods;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view 4-4 of Fig. 3, also showing the manner of f and then the other;

`rotating the skein rod in first one direction 100 Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 showing in dotted lines a change gear arrangement, so that the rotation of the skein rods may be varied;

Fig. 6 is a perspective of one ofthe positive driving sockets for the skein rod and a portion of the link that secures the socket to the chain; and

Fig. 7 is a small sectional view of a skein rod taken on the line-7--7 of Fig. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and for the moment to Fig.v 1, there is shown the side elevation of a bleaching machine, which may be of any length desired, and have the necessary spray pipes, valves and pans for bleaching and washing the yarns.A That is, any desired form of pumps, pans, sprays and connections for carrying out the bleaching or spraying may be used, as the gist of the present invention is the manner of supporting and conveying and positively rotating the skein rods.

lt will be seen lthat the machine includes a suitable frame 1 with suitable standards 2 and the various necessary braces. Near the rear end of the machine there is shown suitably mounted a motor 3, which is belted, as at 4, to the suitably mounted shaft 5, on which there is the main driving worm 6. This small sprocket wheel 12, from which extends the sprocket 20.

the sprocket chain 13 up to the sprocket Wheel 14, which wheel is mounted on a small Stub shaft 15, while also mounted on this stub shaft 15 is the sprocket wheel'16. In like manner on the other end of the shaft 11 there `is a small sprocket 17 which is chained to a sprocket 18 which is mounted on a small stub shaft 19, on which there is also mounted Thus it will be seen that when the motor is driven the small cross shaft 11 will likewise be driven, and through the two small sprocket chains, the two small stub shafts with the sprockets 16 and 20 thereon will likewise be driven, which sprockets, as will be shortly' mentioned, operate or drive the ,endless con- At the forwardend of the machine, there are the two similar idle chains sprockets, that is, 21 and 22. One of the endless conveyor chains A will extend from the sprocket 20 to the sprocket 22, while a like endless conveyor chain B will extend between the sprockets 16 and 21. Thereforefwhen the motor is driven, these two chains will travel continuously throughout the length of the' machine.

llt might be mentioned here that the supports or standards 2 are bolted beneath the side pieces of the frame, as may be seen in Fig. 3, and it is within these respective side pieces of the frame that the upper bights of the chains travel. `The standards 2 may be 'provided with the openings 23, and the lower bights of the chains will pass through these openings within the standards (see 3). These endless conveyor chains are ma e up of a plurality of rollers and links and, as

positively rotate the skein rods in first one i direction and then the other, as will be shortly mentioned.

Still referring to Fig. 3, it will be noticed that in the bottom walls of theo enings 23 are respectively bolted the longitu inally eX- tending supports or uprights 25, which eX- tend practically the entire length of the machine and on which, in turn, will rest the little skein'rod sockets that are carried by the chains. v

0f course, the skein rod sockets are in an inverted position when passing through these spaces in the standards, as they are now on the lower bights of the chains, Thus we have tracks for supporting the upper bights of the chains and uprights for supporting the lower bights of the chains by the now inverted sockets or brackets mounted on the chains. l

As may be also seen in Fig. 3, the side pieces of the frame 1 are provided with the respecy erably made out of lead to prevent the acidsy from getting into the chain or the mechanisms that are within` these side frames. Further guards 31 extend along the machine and adjacentthe uprights 25 and are secured to the various standards 2 so that be protected from the baths or acids.

Thus 'it will be seen, as far as the ldescription has been set forth, that-we have'provided endless conveyor chains, the upper bights of which travel in the respective hol- 'the chain and sockets in the lower bight will low side frames, the inner walls of these said side frames being open so that the skein rods may have their ends passing within these side frames, so that they may travel with the then away from the body portion,

-V or rotating the skein rods S while the Sken rod sockets Before explaining the positive rotating means for the skein rods S that extend across to the chain in the respective side frame pieces,'reference will be made to the little sockets that support the skein rods S, or in other words, the skein rod sockets.

As heretofore mentioned, the chains A and B are made up of rollers, pins and links, that is, each chain is made up of a plurality of rollers 32 through which will fit the ordinary pins 33, as may be seen in Fig. 4, and there is utilized a special form of outside piece 35 to form the links of the chains, which piece also acts as a support for the respective sockets to be shortly described.

Referring for. the moment to Fig. 6, one of these special outside pieces 35 or connecting links may be seen, which comprises an elongated body with the two opposite e-nds, while `an integral tongue 37 is shown as extending slightly upwardly and which tongue is also provided with the opening 38.

Now referring to Fig. 4 for the moment, it will be seen that this forming a part of a link, will have the pins extending through the two holes 36; (We have shown two of these side pieces or links in place without the sockets being secure thereto, simply, however, for clearness of illustration See- Fig. 4.)

Thus, it will be seen, we have the two endless conveyor chains being made up of a plurality of rollers and side pieces, while ex" tending across the top of the links at regular intervals, we have the integral supporting tongues, so that the skein rod sockets may be secured thereto. AOf course, ordinary connecting links or side pieces will be used 0n the inner respective sides of the completed links of the chains.

Now there are two forms of skein rod sockets, one as shown in Fig. 4 (to the right of the drawing) designated by the numeral 40. and the other form 41, as shown to the fle/ft of the drawing in Fig;.4.

One form is used for mechanically'turning other forln is simply to supportthe other respective ends of the skein rods. f*

A description of what we term the driving socket 41 is-clearly shown in Fig. 6, and will irst be described.

It 'will be understood that a description of one of these sockets 41 will be a description of all of the driver sockets of this type, while a description of the other socket will be a description of all the idle sockets of its type.

r socket will'extend down over holes 36 near its little piece 35, when Now glancing at Fig. 6, it will be noticed that the socket may be a small casting substantially cubical in shape, and undercut on its bottom surface as at 42, so that when Iitting it on the little tongue sidepiece 35, the front lower edge 43 ofthe I the front of thel tongue 37, to thus make a more rigid structure and prevent the socket from turning. It will also be noticed vthat this little socket i is cored out as at 44 to receive the driving end 45 of a skein rod S.

It will be understood that these little sockets of both types are simple castings and may be made up in large cut quantities at relatively small expense.

In the bottom surface of the socket there is provided an opening 46 which is countersunk, as at 47), to receive a nut 48, (see Fig. 4), a bolt 48', in turn passing through the securing the little socket tothe tongue which is, in turn, link of the conveyor chain A.

On the near side of the bracket 41 may be seen the two little lrollers'49 which-exte11d slightly above the lower` surface of the cut out portion 44, so that the end 45 of the skein rod S wheninposition will rest on theselittle steel rollers.

In the front wall of the socket mounted a small stub shaft 50 which is squared at its inner end as at 51, so that when the skein rod is resting in position, this d little end 51 of the shaft will in turn fit with- 37 of the link or there is,

' opening 38 of the tongue and secured' by the in a receptive pocket 52 formed in the one n end of the said yskein rod S.

'l he little stub shaft 50 isalso slightly tapered and is provided with a small rim 54 while spaced slightly therefrom andl at the end thereof is the little pinion or gear 55, leaving the tracking space 53. lt is this pinion of the socket that intermittently contacts with two worms that drives the pinion first in one direction and then in the other, as will be shortly set forth.

`Reference might be made now to Fig. ,3 and Ato the lower lefthand side thereof, and it will be noticed that the supports 25 fastenedy within the opening`23 `of the standard are of such relative height' that theilower bight of the chain will be supported on the one side by one of the supports which extend up to the little rollers 49, While the other portion of the support will form a track that helps support the chain by contacting with the small spaced -portion 53 of the shaft 50 in the little socket. I

It will thus be seen thatvthese skein rod sockets support the skein rods when the sockets are on the upper bights'of. the chains,

while the sockets in turn when in their invertedposition-during their return travelhelp support the chains.

,As may be understood from the several views, these little sockets are fastened at intervals along the conveyor chain A to support the various 'driven ends of the skein rods, and in a like manner somewhat similar sockets 40 are supported along the conveyor chain B, which sockets are like the sockets just described, with the exception that insteadof being provided with the pinions 55 and with 'the little squared stub ends, they are each simply provided with a small stub shaft 56 with the small tracking flanges 57 at its end.

These little shafts 56 also act as a bearing .for supporting the chain when the sockets are 'in their inverted position, (as shown to the rod.

By forming these little sockets in this manner, not only do they properly support and hold the skein rods, but they also prevent the carrier chains from clanking or rattling or wearing along the lower bights of the chains, as the sockets, although in their inverted positions at this time, cooperate With the longitudinal supports, and thus in reality have a track when on the lower bight of the chains -as well as whenthey travel along the upper Vbight of the chains.

This support/also prevents sagging and stretching of the chain to a great extent, as

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`it will be remembered these conveyor chains are often of great length, and the two sprockets at the opposite ends would in themselves not prevent this sagging.

As far as the specification has proceeded, it will be seen that the skein rods will be manually placed with their one ends in an interlocking position with the driving sockets, whiletheir other ends will rest respectively in the oppositely positioned idle sockets, so that as the skein rods move from. the forward to the rear end of the machine, they will extend between the two conveyor chains and after completing their travel, they will be removed by workmen at the rear of the machine.

In their words, the workmen will stand Vat the forward end of the machine, and `fit the drive end of a skein rod into one of the little drivingsockets and rest t-he other -end of the skein rod in the opposite socket and thus continuously feed the skein rods to the conveyor chains, while a workman or works'y men at the other end of the machine will likel wise remove the skein rods, after they have completed their travel and have been sub- Lemstra of the chain rods are interlocked in theA driving brackets or sockets and the other ends of the chain rods rest in cooperating brackets or sockets, the manner of causing the skein rods in the brackets to turn first in one direction and then in the other will be set forth.

Means for rotating the skein rod Now it is very desirable that the skein rod not only be carried from one end of the machine to the other, but that they be positively rotated first in one direction and then in the other. l

Now referring to Figs. l and 5 for the moment, it will be seen that the'main cross shaft 1l is also provided with a sprocket 58, from which there extends a chain 59 up to a small standard formof change gear 60, which change gear train comprises the small gear 61 and the larger gear 62 on the same shaft, which in turn meshes with the gear 63, which is movably mounted in the housing 64 there being in turn a smaller gear 65 associated therewith, which meshes with the gear 66, and has the smaller gear 67 meshing with the two gears 68, which gears in turn respectively drive the upper shaft 69 and the lower shaft 7 O through the respective bevel gear on their ends. The bracket of this change gear is adjustable so that smaller or larger compensating gears may be fitted in the upper portion to thus change the gear ratio.

This gear change is of the standard type, and is so well known in the art of the mechanics that it needs no further description.

Now the upper shaft 69 is suitably mounted in bearings 69 near its ends, and Iis intermittently provided with the short worms 71 throughout its length. This shaft 69 will run the entire length of the machine, and as may be seen in Fig. 4, and to the left thereof, ,is directly above the pinions 55 of the drive sockets, so that after a skein rod is placed ,in position and moves towards the rear of the machine, the socket pinion 55 will contact with one of these worms 7l and cause the same to revolve and in turn revolve its skein rod, thus driving the skein rod in one direction as long as the pinion contacts with the worm.

Before describing the lower drive shaft and its worms, it will be understood that every time the pinion 55 of the bracket contacts with a worm or mutilated worm on the drive shaft 69, it will revolve and revolve the skein rod.

temeva Now referring to Fig. for the moment, there is shown the worms 72 mounted on the lower drive shaft 70 so that after the pinion 55 has passed from out of contact with the upper worm 71, it will now contact with the lower worm 72, andlthus be revolved in the opposite direction.

It will also be noticed that this worm 72, (Fig. 5) does not overlap the worm 71, but is spaced slightly along beyond it, so that temporarily as the skein rods and sockets are being conveyed by the chain, there will be a short interval of time when the respective pinions 55 are not in contact with either of the worms, and during this interval, of course, the skein rodsI are not revolving.

Also, as may be seen in Fig. 1, the worms on the lower shaft are in staggered relation to the worms on the upper shaft, and this arrangement is carried out throughout theentire length of the machine, which, of coursey may be anywhere from twenty to fifty feet j when the skein rods are not revolving iny in length.

\ Thus, it will be seen that as each skein rod is placed in its driving and idle bracket or socket, and advanced towards the rear of the machinedue to the movement of the conveyor chainsthe driving pinions of the sockets will first engage a worm on the upper driving shaft 69, and then engage a worm on the lower driving shaft to thus revolve the skein rods S in the one direction and then in theother, there being intervals oftime either direction, `to wit, when the respective pinions are not engaged by an upper or lower worm. l

In this way all the skein rods as they are fed from one end of the machine will be intermittently rotated in the one directionJ and then yin the reverse direction, and therate of rotation pre-determined This rate, however,

"mftv-be varied to suit by simply placing a di e rent gear in the'v change gear train, which,

o f course, will revolve the shafts and respective worms at a greater or lesser speed.

Both shafts 69 and 7 0 turn in the same direction, but due to the fact that one operates on the teeth' at theV upper side of the pinion 55. and the other operates on the teeth at the lower side of the pinion 255, the pinion and likewise its skein rod. will be caused to travel in one direction and then in the other, even though the two shafts 69 and 70 and their wprms, aire travelling in the same direction.

0f course, the rate of the travel of the conveyor chains may be pre-determined and valried and likewisethe rate of rotation of the skein rods in the two directions may be vae.

dried, so that the skeins S that are placed on the skein rods may be sub]ected to the various sprays or washes for thedesired intervals of time.

As heretofore mentioned, it is desirable to have the skein rods rotate in ene direction and thereof, and positively direction, there being an shafts 69 and 70. These shafts are arranged,

as may be seen in Fig. 3, within one of the side frame pieces, and are well guarded from the acids in the machine..

As may be seen in Fig. 3, there is'provided y a large pan 7 3 located above the skein rods, which has aperforated bottom 74, so that the acids or wash trave-l throughout the length of the machine.

Likewise, in Flg.y 2, I have shown various 75 within this pan maybe sprayedv down over the skeins S, as they pumps 76, and pipes 77, for supplying the liquid material to the pan or pans, an 1n Fig. 3 there is shown the large pan 78 directly beneath the skein rods, so that the water or liquids may be caught. and either usedv over again or run olf topa sewer.

- The various inlets and outlets do not form the gist of the invention, andthese several parts just referred to are merely for the sake and it will be understood that of illustration, I may use any form of supplying the water or washes or emulsions to the skein as desired.

It' will also be seen that the machine may beI of any ldesired length and thereby carry as many skein rods as desired, but the construction and operation will be in no' way changed, however.

llt is thought that the operation asheretofore sety out, is suiiciently clear without reiteratin it being simply necessary to state that the s ein rods are carried by sockets on the conveyor chains on the upward bights driven ,.(or rotated) rst in one direction and then in the other I intermittent time of no rotation. Nowvwhen ythe skein rods have reached the end of the machine, and the skeins subjected to the various treatments, the rods will be lifted from their places, the skeins removed, and the rods be carriedr around to the front of the machine, again filled with skeins and subjected to the same travel and treatment.

As may be noticed in Fig. 2, there is a small bracket 83 at the forward end of the machine and to the left of the operator, in which may be rested one end of `a skein rod, so thatthe operator may convenlently support one end of the skein rod while placing the skeins on the rod. 0f course, after the rod has been; M

lled with the skeins, it will be placed in the respective sockets on the carrier chain..

To the rear of the machine may he seen the similar bracket 84: but diagonally opposite from 83, so that the rod after leaving the endless conveyor may be likewise conveniently supported at one end, while the workman removes the now treated skeins from the skein rods.

llt will also be remembered that the rate of travel of the skein rods can be determined, and that by using the form of change gear for the worm driving shafts, the rate of rotation of the skeins may be predetermined. Likewise, the length of the worms may be such that the skein rods will make any desired number of turns before again idling and then travelling in the reverse direction.

Now the skein rods themselves are preferably cross-like in cross section, and have the little rims at their opposite ends that tit in front of and behind the respective guards 28 to 31 to thus keep the acid from spraying into the side frames. 'lhey are also each provided with the marginal ends flanges 81 to limit the number of skeins to be placed on the rod. Uf course, one end is provided with.,

a little niche or pocket 52 to tit the squared portion 51 of the shaft 50, as heretofore mentioned.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have produced a washing and bleaching machine for yarns and preferably for rayon that will permit the rayon skeins to be subjected to the various washing and bleaching actions during their travel through the length of the machine, and at the same time will positively and accurately revolve the skein rods intermittently in opposite directions to thus permit the skeins to be thoroughly acted upon throughout their length and be uniformly treated, and at the same time be prevented from bunching at one end of the skein rod.

Other advantages are obtained, such as is'no convenient way of changing the rate` of rotation, nor pre-determining the number of revolutions that the skein rods will make, whereas in our invention there isan absolute positive rotation of the skein rods, first in one direction and then in the other, and the rate of speed may be varied to suit `the conditions.

Man slight changes or modifications might e made in this machine, without in Leraars any way departing from the spirit and scope of the same.

Having thus described my invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is:

1. ln a machine for washing and bleach- `ing yarns, two laterally spaced conveyor chains, means for operating said chains, receptive means on said chains and adapted to receive skein rods, rotative means on the receptive means that are located on one of said chains, means for rotating the said rotative means of the receptive means which in turn will rotate the skein rods when in position, and the saidmeans also capable of rotating the rotative means intermittently first in one direction and then in the other.

2. ln a machine for washing and bleaching yarns, two laterally spaced conveyor chains and means for driving the same, 'skein rod sockets on said chains and the sockets on one of said chains having rotative means adapted to interlock with skein rod, means adjacent one of said chains to actuate the rotative means of the sockets first in one direction and then in the other direction as the conveyor chains are driven, to thereby rotate the skein rods irst in one direction and then in the other.

3. ln a machine'vfor washing and bleaching yarns, two laterally spaced conveyor chains and means for driving the same, skein rod sockets on said chains, and the sockets on one of said chains each having a small shaft with a pinion on its end,

`and the said small shafts adapted to be respectively removably interlocked with skein rods, staggered means above and below the said pinions for intermittently contacting with the said pinions, means for driving said staggered means whereby thesaid pinions and the skein rods when interlocked therewith will be driven in first onev direction and then the other, as the conveyor chains travel alonglthe machine.

4c. n a machine for Washing and bleaching yarns, two laterallyv spaced conveyor chains and means for `driving the same, skein rod sockets on both chains and the sockets o-n one chain being idle sockets, and the sockets on the other chain being provided with means that are capable of rotating lirst in one direction and then the other, and means adjacent these last mentioned sockets for rotating the rotative means of the said sockets, first in one direction and then in the other.

5. ln a machine for washing and bleaching rayon skeins, two laterally spaced conveyor chains and means for driving the same, skein rod sockets on both of the said chains, skein rods extending from chain to chain and resting in the said sockets,rotative means on some of the sockets and interlocking with the said skein rods, and means adjacent the rotative means ofthe sockets to actuate the Same in first one direction .and then the other, to thereby likewise actuate the skeinV rods as they are carried along by the conveyor chains. f

6. ln a machine for washing and bleaching rayon skeins, two laterally spaced conveyors and means for driving the same, driving skein rod sockets on one of said conveyors, and idle skein rod sockets on the other of said conveyors, skein rods extending between said conveyors and fitting within said sockets, interlocking means in the drive skein rod sockets to removably interlock with the respective ends of the skein' rods, and means to intermittently contact with the driving skein rod sockets and arranged to positively rotate the interlocked skein rods in first one direction and then the other.

7. ln a machine for bleaching rayon, a pair of laterally spaced side frames, an endless carrier in each of said side frames and means for driving the carrier, skein rods rotatably mounted on said carriers and extending between the said side frames, means forming a part of the endless carriers for removably interlocking with said skein rods and means for positively rotating the locking means first in one direction and then in the other to therebyjmpart a like rotation to f to the said skein rods. A

8. In a machine for bleaching rayon, a pair of laterally spaced side frames, simultaneously movable endless carriers in'each of said side frames, skein rod supporting means forming a partcof said carriers, skein rods fitting within these supporting means, the supporting means on one of the said carriers having interlocking rotative parts to cooperate with one of the ends of the skein rods, means for intermittently engaging the interlocking rotative parts and so arranged as to positively rotate the-said parts and the said skein rods first in one direction and then the other. y

`9.' ,In a bleaching machine a pair of laterally spaced endless carriers and means for simultaneously driving the same, skein rod supporting sockets on said chains, and skeinrods fitting within the sockets, one of the sockets for each skein rod being an idle sockv et, and the other socket'for each skein rod being a driving socket rotative means on the respective drive sockets, a plurality of small worms arranged in staggered relation to each other for intermittently` engaging the rotative means on the driving socket to thus rotate the skein rods first in one direction and then the other.

10. ln a bleaching machine, a pair of laterally spaced endless carriers, and means for simultaneously driving the same, skein rod I sockets on one carrier and each of said sockets having a driving imon adapted to inter.-

lock with an end o a skein rod, idle supporting sockets on the other of said carriers,

lfitting between the two said shafts, and

adapted to first contact with the worm on one shaft, and then with the worm on the other, means for driving said shafts to thereby cause the skein rods as they travel to rotate first in one direction and then the 1 other.

l1. ln a bleaching machine a pair of laterally spaced endless carriers and means for simultaneously driving the same, driving skein rod sockets on the one carrier, and idle supporting sockets on the other of said carriers, driving sockets and adapted to be removably interlocked with the said skein rods,two series of worms within the Vpath of travel of the pinions of said, driving sockets, one series being located above the pinion and one series being located below the pinion, and the worms in one series'being in staggered relation to the worms in the other series, and non-overlapping, means for rotating the worms whereby the skein rods will be rotat- Ved first in one direction, -then idle, and then skein rods, rotating pinions on the erally spaced endless carriers and means for A simultaneously driving the same, driving skein rod sockets on the one carrier and idle supporting sockets on the other of said carriers, skein rods, rotating pinions on the driving sockets and adapted to be removably interlocked with the said skein rods, two series of worms within the path of travel of the pinions of said driving sockets, one seriesbeing located above the rpinion and one series being' located below the pinion,

-and the worms in one series being in staggered relation to the worms in the otherv series, and non-overlapping, means for rotating the worms whereby the skein rods` will be rotatedv rst in one direction, then idle, and then rotated in the other direction, as they travel along on said carriers, and means for changing the rate of"`rotation` of the worms to thereby change the' ratefof rotation of the skein rods. p

13. ln a rayon washing and bleaching machine, a plurality of skein rods, means for causing the skein rods to travel throughout.. `the machine, driving sockets on said means for supporting and positively rotating skein rods, worm means for rotating the driving socket, shafts for rotating the worms, and the shafts synchronously connected to the means for causing the skein rod to travel throughout the machine, to provide a positive ratio between the rotation of the skein rods with relation to their rate of longitudinal travel,

14. A socket for supporting and driving 'the skein rods in a bleaching machine, comprising a cubical formed body, the central portion of which is partly removed, rollers on the inner face of the body and extending slightly above the lower Wall 'of the removed portion, a revolvable stub shaft fitting Within the outer face of the socket and havin a pinion on its one end and a locking portlon on its other end.

l5. A driving socket for skein rods comprising a body portion and a chamber open at its ltop formed in the body portion, rollers extending slightly above the bottom vvall of said chamber, a driving shaft fitted Within the body portion, one end of the driving y member fitting Within the said chamber, and

the other end of the driving member provided witli a small gear Wheel.

16. A driving socket for skein rods comprising a body portion and a chamber open at its top formed in the body portion, rollers extending slightly above the bottom Wall of said chamber, a driving shaft fitted Within the body portion, one end of the driving memn ternera 'the skein rods and means for rotating said last-mentioned means, spray pans located above the skein rods and means for pumping liquids thereto, receiving pans beneath the skein rods and lead shields secured to the standards and to the side frames for protecting the conveyor chaihs from the corrosive action of the liquids. i

lln testimony whereof We ax our signatures.

JOHN JOSEPH SllPPEL. lVlLLlAM F. HENNESSY, 

